Young Friends of the Earth Europe as a grassroots network of young people and youth organisations working collectively for social and environmental justice is part of a wider European movement consisting of young activists campaigning on climate issues. Connecting local struggles and bringing those voices forth on the European level is vital for a strong movement, which is needed now more than ever as important decisions are being made by the European union (EU) regarding new climate and energy policies for 2030. We need to combine our efforts in order to put pressure on the decision makers in the EU to put forward a more ambitious plan to tackle the climate crisis.
The article was originaly published on Push Europe’s website.
The European Youth Climate Movement (EYCM) encompasses all youth organisations across Europe that are engaged in the fight for climate justice.
If you are a young person campaigning on environmental, social or economic justice in Europe – congratulations, YOU are part of the movement too!
The diversity of the movement – the issues we focus on, our messages and communication methods, our geographical reach, and our campaign tactics – is reflective of the diversity of Europe as a whole. However, the EYCM agrees to a common goal: to prevent dangerous climate change and ensure climate equity on a global scale.
Push Europe is the public-facing campaigns network of the EYCM, providing:
- a structure for us to link up, and;
- a platform for us to coordinate our efforts, where appropriate.
Collectively, through this structure, Push Europe aims to empower and mobilise the movement take positive, collective action on climate change.
The EYCM: A History
The EYCM started to take shape in 2008, at the UN climate talks in Poznan. This was the first time young Europeans had come together in any great number to work together and take collective action on climate issues.
In the years that followed, EYCM activity was generally concentrated around the UN climate talks (nicknamed ‘COPs’, or ‘Conference of the Parties’ in UN language). These COPs take place every year, and can be located all over the world.
As well as during these COPs, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meets every Spring in Bonn, Germany, for an inter-sessional conference. Due to the convenient location of these inter-sessionals, the EYCM have traditionally gathered in large numbers at these conferences.
For a few years, this pattern continued. The COPs and inter-sessionals brought a flurry of European-level cooperation and a coordinated effort to put pressure on European decision-makers. However, after the COPs, the groups and individuals from the EYCM dispersed, and returned to their national-level campaigning. Many within the movement felt there was a need for a constant youth presence in Europe, all year round.
Push Europe was set up by members of the EYCM to ensure that the youth voice was heard all year round, in order to keep constant pressure on European decision-makers. In this way we are able to set our own agenda instead of simply following the UN’s timetable.
Interested in joining this amazing EYCM team more actively? Then just get back to us, ask whatever you’re interested in and get involved! It’s that simple! We will be working on a European wide campaign regarding the EU 2030 climate and energy targets (emissions reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency), so there is your chance to get on board. Let’s make the decision makers see that the youth have an important voice!